The Anti-Boycott law law is a clear political attempt to silence legitimate and justified criticism against the Israeli policy and the ongoing occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people as well as to prevent public discussion on the financial interests in the continuing Israeli control over Palestinian and Syrian land, resources and labor force.

The law refers to economic, cultural or academic boycott based on the specifics of its “linkage to the state of Israel, one of its institutions or an area under its control”. Individuals, bodies or corporations can prosecute anyone who knowingly publishes a public call for boycott or publicly participates in a call for boycott, without proving damages. Therefore, this law actually imposes sanctions and financial penalties on individuals who chose a non-violent political protest which includes boycott.

The public discussion in Israel consist many public stands regarding boycott and divestment these days , but only one voice is hardly heard-in the Israeli public discussion- supporting and endorsing BDS- and all due to political censorship.

Boycott is accepted worldwide as one of the tools in non-violent protests and struggles, and is also being used in social and economic justice struggles within Israel. The anti-boycott law sends a clear message of distinction between boycotting supermarket chain-stores because of the high prices as a legitimate protest, and boycott as part of the struggle to end the Israeli occupation as prohibited. The law violates the freedom of speech and political expression and received harsh criticism fromfrom Israeli SCO’s as well as political parties and the international community